Game on? Senate Dems move towards vote on middle class tax cuts

[babylonsister]

DO THIS ASAP! Let America see whose interests are being served!

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/09/senate_dems_move_towards_vote.html

Game on? Senate Dems move towards vote on middle class tax cuts


Okay, it looks like Senate Democrats are getting close to staging a major confrontation over whether to extend the Bush tax cuts for the middle class.

A senior Congressional aide tells me that the Senate Finance Committee, in tandem with Harry Reid's office, is working on legislation that would "force a vote on middle class tax cuts."

"Dems will likely introduce a middle class tax cut package and ideally that would be voted on, whether as an amendment to a stand-alone piece of legislation or as an amendment to a bill," the aide says, adding that the Dem leadership wants the bill on the floor "next week."

The aide tells me that a handful of Senate Dem moderates don't want a vote, but otherwise, the Dem caucus is relatively united behind a move "to proceed full speed ahead with middle class tax cuts."

The GOP may well successfully filibuster the measure, the aide continues. If so, Dems will point it to as proof of their message that Republicans are holding a vote for an extension of middle class tax cuts hostage to an extension of cuts for the rich.

"We win with either option -- either the middle class cuts pass or Republicans are isolated and look awful stalling and defending tax cuts for the richest of the rich," the aide says.

Also: Christina Bellantoni, who reported on this earlier, notes that Dems want to start the floor debate as early as next Monday. That could quickly crank up the heat on this issue to full boil.

One crucial wrinkle: This movement still doesn't settle the question of whether the House will hold a similar vote, which would arguably be more important for Dems in political terms, given that control of the House is at risk. Dem leaders may conclude that if the GOP filibusters the bill in the Senate, a clear enough contrast will have been drawn between the two parties, negating the need for a House vote that would be inconsequential in any case, since the measure died in the Senate.

But at least we're now seeing some movement towards a vote. More when I learn it.


By Greg Sargent

[Clio the Leo]

1. No .......... GAME ON!!!!!

And to continue the video game metaphor....

[Parker CA]

2. K&R!

[flamingdem]

3. off with their 'eads!! nt